Individuals from across the country have commented on the passing of CFL legend Ron Lancaster.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats President Scott Mitchell:
“We are all shocked by Ron’s sudden passing and on behalf of everybody in the Tiger-Cats organization and all of our fans in TigerTown, we wish to extend our utmost sympathies to Ron’s family.”
“Ron Lancaster was a legendary and Hall of Fame quarterback, a Grey Cup winning coach and award winning broadcaster. Despite all the tremendous accolades that come with such great accomplishments, he was the most sincere, honest and straightforward person you could ever meet. He treated owners the same way he treated the part time volunteer staff and had a modesty about him that was truly uncommon. One of the great storytellers in sports history, with a great sense of humour, Ron never pretended to be anything other than what he was; A family man who loved football.”
Canadian Football League Commissioner Mark Cohon:
“Our league has lost its ‘little general’. And our country has lost a giant of a man.”
“Ron Lancaster is deeply loved across Canada, as a CFL player, coach, broadcaster and mentor, but most of all as a true friend. His career spanned eras, bridged west and east, and delighted our fans. But his life transcended sport, because the young man who came here from Pennsylvania grew into a true Canadian hero — a role model who often towered above the rest, and yet remained resolutely down to earth, at the same time.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with his wife, Bev, three children Lana, Ron and Bob and his four grandchildren.”
Saskatchewan Roughriders President/CEO Jim Hopson:
“Ronnie was one of the greatest football players and even more important, one of the greatest human beings I have had the privilege to know. His loss will be deeply felt in Saskatchewan and across the nation as Ron touched so many people through his playing, coaching and commentator work.”
Former Roughrider teammate Hugh Campbell:
“Ron Lancaster was exactly what you got. His words and body language were unfiltered. Ron’s love for Bev and family was always at the center of his life. He believed in hard work and thoroughly enjoyed his interaction with the huge variety of people in his life. Ronnie would turn a simple conversation with someone he knew forever or a fan he just met into a fun experience. I have a really good book’s worth of info going through my head, but it’s a struggle to put it into words. We were kids when we met and our families have been great friends.”
Edmonton Eskimos President Rick LeLacheur:
“This is a profound loss. He was a tremendous competitor, leader, mentor and friend. There are few people who have left as big an impact on our league as Ron Lancaster. Our deepest condolences to his family and many friends.”
Former Edmonton Eskimos Kicker Sean Fleming:
“A great man, simple but right to the point. Ron was a person people gravitated to. Loyal to his players almost to a fault, genuine to those he didn’t know. Ron always said that the biggest compliment you could give a football player was to call him just that, a player. Someone who went out and did their job without any other reason but for the love of the game and for those around him. Ron was all that and more, he was a player, he was a coach, but most of all he was a great man.”
Former Edmonton Eskimos Quarterback Tom Wilkinson:
“He was just a great guy. A tremendous football player. I remember when we first went to the Grey Cup in ’73 and that was the team you had to get by and no matter what the score was, if they had the ball late in the game they had the chance to win it. And he was just an all-around great guy”.
Former Edmonton Eskimos Linebacker Willie Pless:
“Ron was the best head coach I played for in my 14 years in the CFL. He had been in the trenches himself so he was a “players coach”, who put a tremendous amount of trust and faith in his veteran players.”
Former Edmonton Eskimo Larry Wruck:
“I have seen very few people cry in football but I’ll always remember the tears of joy rolling down Coach Lancaster’s face after we won the ’93 Grey Cup. He was just so passionate about the game of football.”
